Weightlifting aid

ABSTRACT

According to the invention there is provided a method of a weightlifting aid including: a chest contacting arrangement for attaching the aid to the chest area of a user; a base region in connection with the chest contacting arrangement; and a plurality of barbell supporting board elements each of which extends over a substantial portion of the width of the user&#39;s chest; in which at least a first barbell supporting board element is releasably connectable to the base region, and the plurality of barbell supporting board elements are releasably interconnectable so as to form a stack of board elements on top of the base region, the stack being of adjustable height depending on the number of barbell supporting board elements used to form the stack.

This invention relates to a weightlifting aid and a method of weightlifting, with particular reference to weightlifting from a recumbent position, such as bench pressing.

It is known that, for a variety of reasons, it can be desirable to initiate a bench press exercise from a range of starting positions. To this end, it is known to use a number of stackable wooden boards which can be placed on a weightlifter's chest so that the minimum position of the barbell is at a desired distance from the weightlifter's chest. This requires at least one other person (commonly known as a “spotter”) to be present to hold on to the boards.

In the prior art, a number of safety devices have been proposed to protect a weightlifter during a bench press exercise—see for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,224,518, 5,433,686 and 5,897,468. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,468 describes a training aid which is intended to reduce the risk of injury to the arm and shoulder of a user and provide assistance to a user who is attempting to lift a somewhat increased weight. The training aid disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,468 comprises a harness having a pair of relatively small spaced apart pockets. A plurality of spacers can be stored in each pocket to an overhaul height of up to about 4 cm in order to prevent the barbell from touching the chest of the user, thereby rendering the weightlifting exercise easier. Another embodiment is proposed in which a single pair of spaced apart spacers are attached to the training aid using a hook and loop fastener material.

The present inventor has realised that there is a need for a device which can be used by a weightlifter to perform a range of bench press type exercises at a significant and variable range of heights and which does not require the assistance of another person during exercise with the training aid in a set configuration.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a weightlifting aid including:

a chest contacting arrangement for attaching the aid to the chest area of the user;

a base region in connection with the harness; and

a plurality of barbell supporting board elements each of which extends over a substantial portion of the width of the users chest;

in which at least a first barbell supporting board element is releasably connectable to the base region, and the plurality of barbell supporting board elements are releasably interconnectable so as to form a stack of board elements on top of the base region, the stack being of adjustable height depending on the number of barbell supporting boards used to form the stack.

In this way, the above described needs can be met. In contrast, the training aid of U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,468 acts as a backstop position for the barbell close to the chest of the user, and does not suggest that a range of beneficial and differing exercises can be performed by providing taller platforms of variable height. In any event, the use of two separate and rather thin spacers as proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,468 are unlikely to prove to be sturdy, certainly at significant clearances from the user's chest, and could easily topple should a heavy weight be rested on them, or if the barbell is lowered at an angle or with a twisting motion. This could cause serious injury to the weightlifter.

The skilled reader will appreciate that the chest contacting arrangement does not necessarily have to be in direct contact with the chest area of the user, but rather may be in indirect contact through one or more separating layers of clothing.

Preferably, the barbell supporting board elements include at least one projection and/or at least one recess which is sized to accept a projection of another barbell supporting board element, wherein barbell supporting board elements are releasably interconnected by securing the projection of one board element in the recess of an adjacent board element. In this way, a stack of barbell supporting board elements can be formed in a convenient manner. The stack can be structurally strong, and it is convenient to add or remove board elements in order to adjust the height of the stack.

In other embodiments, the barbell supporting board elements include a fabric fastening material in which, in use, the fabric fastener materials of adjacent board members interlock to provide a releasable interconnection. The fabric fastener material can be of the hook and loop type such as Velcro®.

The first barbell supporting board element and the base region may each include a fabric fastener material, in which, in use, the fabric fastener materials of the first board element and the base region interlock to provide a releasable connection.

Preferably, each board element is at least 5 cm thick. Board element thicknesses of 7.5 cm or greater might be used.

Advantageously, the aid includes at least four board elements.

Generally, the stack height when all of the board elements are interconnected is greater than 5 cm, preferably greater than 10 cm.

The board elements may be formed from any suitable material. Preferably, the board elements are formed from a resilient foam, such as high density foam. Other materials, such as elastomeric or polymeric materials, might be utilised.

The base region may be in the form of a pad. The pad may be formed from a polymeric material which may be in the form of polymer fibres. The pad may be formed from nylon. Alternatively, or additionally the base region may consist of one of the barbell supporting board elements or a similar structural element.

The chest contacting arrangement may be a harness. Preferably, the harness is a chest strap. Alternatively, a harness which attaches around the chest and shoulders of a user might be employed.

Alternatively, the chest contacting arrangement may be an item of clothing for the upper body, such as a vest, T-shirt or sweater.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of weightlifting by a person including the steps of:

i) providing a weightlifting aid according to the first aspect of the invention;

ii) attaching the weightlifting aid to the chest area of the person;

iii) forming a stack of a desired number of board elements on the weightlifting aid;

iv) assuming a recumbent weightlifting position;

v) performing a weightlifting exercise with a barbell; and

optionally, vi) adjusting a number of board elements in the stack and repeating step v).

It will be appreciated that the order of some of the steps may be interchanged, e.g., steps iii) and iv) might be interchanged.

Whilst the invention has been described above, it extends to any inventive combination of the features set out above, or in the following description, drawings or claims.

Embodiments of weightlifting aids and methods in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a weightlifting aid of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows (a) a first embodiment and (b) a second embodiment of the harness portion of a weightlifting aid;

FIG. 3 shows the attachment of a board element to the base region of the weightlifting aid of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows perspective views of (a) the underside and (b) the top of a board element; and

FIG. 5 shows (a) a first exercise and (b) a second exercise performed using a weightlifting aid with different stack heights.

FIG. 1 shows a training aid of the invention, depicted generally at 10, which comprises a harness 12, a base region 14, and a plurality of barbell supporting board elements 16, which are arranged in a stack on top of the base region 14.

FIG. 2 a shows the harness 12 and base region 14 in more detail. The harness 12 is formed from a length of material which has elastic properties, and is connected at both of its ends to the base region 14. The strap 12 can simply be brought down over the user's head and positioned around the central area of the user's chest region. A plurality of side members 12 a can extend between the strap 12 and the base region 14 to provide additional stability. FIG. 3 b shows another embodiment of a harness 18 attached to a base region 14. In this embodiment, the harness 18 has a buckle arrangement 20 which is used to secure the strap 18 to the chest of a user. Again, side members 18 a can be provided.

The base region 14 can be a suitable pad such as a nylon pad which can be coupled to a board element 16 in a suitable manner. In a preferred embodiment, the upper surface of the pad has a hook and loop fabric attached thereto, and the underside of a board element 16 has a complimentary hook and loop fabric attached thereto so that the board element 16 can be removably attached to the base region 14.

FIG. 4 shows a board element 16 in more detail. It can be seen that the board element 16 comprises a generally rectangular main portion 16 a which has a projection 16 b extending from an upper surface thereof. The underside of the board element 16 has a corresponding recess 16 c formed therein which is shaped so that the projection of one board element can fit snugly into the recess of another board element and thereby be releasably but securely retained by a friction fit. It will be apparent to the skilled reader that many variations of this principle are possible. For example, the projection may be differently shaped and/or there may be a plurality of projections. For example, a system similar to the one employed in Lego® toy bricks might be utilised. In other embodiments still, the board elements might be provided with hook and loop fabric in order to connect all elements together. However, this embodiment is less preferred, since there is more chance of accidentally removing a different board element to the one which it is intended to remove.

The board elements can be interconnected in the manner described above in order to provide a stack of board elements as shown in FIG. 1. The number of board elements 16 can be varied in accordance with the user's wishes in order to vary the nature of the exercise performed. FIGS. 5 a and 5 b show a user 50 performing a bench press exercise with a barbell 52 using a training aid 54 of the invention. The training aid 54 includes a stack formed from a plurality of board elements 56. The provision of the training aid with one or more board elements in place reduces the range of motion covered in a bench press exercise. The greater the number of board elements 56 employed, the greater the height of the associated stack, and the less the range of motion covered in the bench press. An advantage with reducing the range of motion is that a user can strengthen weak points in his/her bench press action. For example, if a user were to find that there is a tendency to fail at two-thirds extension when using heavier weights, then an appropriate number of board elements 56 could be used so that the user can practise lifting from this position, which corresponds generally to the position shown in FIG. 5 a.

FIG. 5 b shows the use of a relatively large number of board elements 56 which enables the user 50 to overload the upper end of his/her range of motion. Exercising this configuration allows the user 50 to become used to holding heavier weights, as well as focusing the exercise on the triceps. Advantageously, the boards are sufficiently narrow to allow the use of 50 to perform a close grip bench press, which is a bench press exercise used to focus on the development of the triceps.

Another useful exercise which can be performed using the present invention is a “drop set” workout wherein the height of the stack is varied so that exercises are performed with variable starting heights of the barbell. This can be performed by commencing a bench press set using a plurality of board elements which are then successively removed from the stack. After each removal of a board element, the user performs a number of reps. This can be continued until only a single board element remains, or indeed all of the board elements have been removed. Alternatively, the drop set can be performed in an opposite manner, i.e., the user begins with none or one board element in place, with board elements being successively added to the stack. In general, a drop set would be performed with an assistant who would add or remove the board elements. If the user performs a number of reps using the training aid at a set stack height, then no assistance is required, since the harness ensures that the board elements remain in place.

It is preferred that the board pads are formed from a relatively high density foam material. Such materials are relatively light, but provide sufficient resilience against the weight of the barbell. Other materials, such as a suitable rubber, might be used in its place. Representative dimensions for the board elements are 7.5 cm×15 cm×25 cm. It is desired that the board elements are sufficiently wide to extend over a substantial portion of the users chest in order to provide a suitably stable structure. In general, this requirement is manifest in the board element having a width of 15 cm or greater.

Numerous variations to the embodiments described above would suggest themselves to the skilled reader. For example, a top board element might be provided which possess one or more recesses so that it can be coupled to a lower board element in the stack, but which does not possess a corresponding projection, i.e., it has a plane upper surface. The top board could be positioned at the top of the stack to present a uniform upper surface of the stack. The board elements maybe provided with a lip, slot or other cut-out feature which enables them to be removed from the stack more easily. 

1-11. (canceled)
 12. A weightlifting aid including: a chest contacting arrangement for attaching the aid to the chest area of a user; a base region in connection with the chest contacting arrangement; and a plurality of barbell supporting board elements each of which extends over a substantial portion of the width of the user's chest; in which at least a first barbell supporting board element is releasably connectable to the base region, and the plurality of barbell supporting board elements are releasably interconnectable so as to form a stack of board elements on top of the base region, the stack being of adjustable height depending on the number of barbell supporting board elements used to form the stack, wherein the stack height when all of the board elements are interconnected is greater than 5 cm.
 13. A weightlifting aid according to claim 12 in which the barbell supporting board elements include at least one projection and/or at least one recess which is sized to accept a projection of another barbell supporting board element, wherein barbell supporting board elements are releasably interconnected by securing the projection of one board element in the recess of an adjacent board element.
 14. A weightlifting aid according to claim 12 in which the barbell supporting board elements include a fabric fastener material in which, in use, the fabric fastener materials of adjacent board elements interlock to provide a releasable interconnection.
 15. A weightlifting aid according to claim 12 in which a first barbell supporting board element and the base region each include a fabric fastener material, in which, in use, the fabric fastener materials of the first board element and the base region interlock to provide a releasable connection.
 16. A weightlifting aid according to claim 12 in which each board element is at least 5 cm thick.
 17. A weightlifting aid according to claim 12 including at least four board elements.
 18. A weightlifting aid according to claim 12 in which the board elements are formed from foam.
 19. A weightlifting aid according to claim 12 in which the chest contacting arrangement is a harness.
 20. A weightlifting aid according to claim 19 in which the harness is a chest strap.
 21. A weightlifting aid according to claim 12 in which the chest contacting arrangement is an item of clothing for the upper body.
 22. A method of weightlifting by a person including the steps of: i) providing a weightlifting aid according to claim 12; ii) attaching the weightlifting aid to the chest area of the person; iii) forming a stack of a desired number of board elements on the weightlifting aid; iv) assuming a recumbent weightlifting position; v) performing a weightlifting exercise with a barbell; and optionally, vi) adjusting the number of board elements in the stack and repeating step v).
 23. A weightlifting aid according to claim 12 in which the stack height when all of the board elements are interconnected is greater than 10 cm.
 24. A weightlifting aid including: a chest contacting arrangement for attaching the aid to the chest area of the user; a base region in connection with the chest contacting arrangement; and a plurality of barbell supporting board elements each of which extends over a substantial portion of the width of the user's chest, in which the barbell supporting board elements include at least one projection and/or at least recess which is sized to accept a projection of another barbell supporting board element; in which at least a first barbell supporting board element is releasably connectable to the base region, and the plurality of barbell supporting board elements are releasably interconnectable by securing the projection of one board element in the recess of an adjacent board element so as to form a stack of board elements on top of the base region, the stack being of adjustable height depending on the number of barbells supporting board elements used to form the stack.
 25. A method of weightlifting by a person including the steps of: i) providing a weightlifting aid according to claim 24; ii) attaching the weightlifting aid to the chest area of the person; iii) forming a stack of a desired number of board elements on the weightlifting aid; iv) assuming a recumbent weightlifting position; v) performing a weightlifting exercise with a barbell; and optionally, vi) adjusting the number of board elements in the stack and repeating step v). 